H.R. 2574House116th Congress (2019-2021)Passed House

Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act of 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 4:59 AM UTC

The Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act of 2019 updates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It gives individuals the ability to sue over disparate‑impact violations, obligates federally funded schools and programs to appoint a compliance monitor and inform the public of that contact, treats antisemitism as a form of race‑based discrimination, and adds a senior Department of Education official to oversee equity and inclusion efforts.

Key Provisions

Restores a private right of civil action for individuals who suffer disparate‑impact discrimination under Title VI, making it enforceable like intentional discrimination.
Requires every education program or activity that receives federal funds to name at least one employee to coordinate Title VI compliance, investigate complaints, and publicly share that employee’s contact information.
Specifies that antisemitism will be treated as discrimination based on race, color, or national origin for purposes of Title VI enforcement.
Creates a new Special Assistant for Equity and Inclusion in the Department of Education to promote, coordinate, and evaluate Title VI compliance and to advise senior department officials.

Legislative Activity

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23 earlier actions

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

September 17, 2020

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 8, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Judiciary Committee

May 8, 2019

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Education and Workforce Committee

May 16, 2019

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 26 - 20.

Education and Workforce Committee

May 16, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.

Constitution and Limited Government Subcommittee

May 31, 2019

HouseCommittee

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Labor. H. Rept. 116-495, Part I.

Education and Workforce Committee

September 8, 2020

HouseFloor

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1107 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2574, H.R. 2639, H.R. 2694 and H. Res. 908. Provides for one hour of debate on each measure. The previous question will be considered as ordered on each measure without intervening motions except for one motion to recommit with or without instructions on H.R. 2574, H.R. 2639, and H.R. 2694.

September 14, 2020 • 3:37 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1107. (consideration: CR H4439-4444)

September 16, 2020 • 10:23 AM

HouseFloor

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2574, H.R. 2639, H.R. 2694 and H. Res. 908. Provides for one hour of debate on each measure. The previous question will be considered as ordered on each measure without intervening motions except for one motion to recommit with or without instructions on H.R. 2574, H.R. 2639, and H.R. 2694.

September 16, 2020 • 10:23 AM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 2574.

September 16, 2020 • 10:25 AM

HouseFloor

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

September 16, 2020 • 10:59 AM

HouseFloor

Ms. Foxx (NC) moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Education and Labor. (text: CR H4443)

Education and Workforce Committee

September 16, 2020 • 11:00 AM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Foxx (NC) motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to add antisemitism as a designation to be considered discrimination under title VI of the bill.

September 16, 2020 • 11:00 AM

HouseFloor

The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

September 16, 2020 • 11:05 AM

HouseFloor

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Foxx (NC) motion to recommit with instructions, the Chair put the question on agreeing to the motion and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Foxx (NC) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the motion to recommit with instructions until a time to be announced.

September 16, 2020 • 11:05 AM

HouseFloor

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4473-4474)

September 16, 2020 • 2:22 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to recommit with instructions Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 255 - 164 (Roll no. 191).

Education and Workforce Committee

View vote Passed

September 16, 2020 • 3:12 PM

HouseFloor

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate, the Chair put the question on passage of H.R. 2574, and announced by voice vote that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Foxx (NC) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on passage until a time to be announced.

September 16, 2020 • 3:14 PM

HouseFloor

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4474-4475)

September 16, 2020 • 3:23 PM

HouseFloor

UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on passage of H.R. 2574, which was debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

September 16, 2020 • 3:23 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 232 - 188 (Roll no. 192).

View vote Passed

September 16, 2020 • 4:05 PM

HouseFloor

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 232 - 188 (Roll no. 192).

View vote Passed

September 16, 2020 • 4:05 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

September 16, 2020 • 4:05 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

September 17, 2020

Voting History

2 votes recorded • Roll call available

HOUSE

Roll Call Available

September 16, 2020 at 4:02 PM

On Passage

Majority required: 1/2 (50%)

Passed

232 - 188

HOUSE

Roll Call Available

September 16, 2020 at 3:10 PM

On Motion to Recommit with Instructions

Majority required: 1/2 (50%)

Passed

255 - 164

Amendments

2 amendments

Offered to this bill

H.Amdt. 882Sep 16, 2020

Pursuant to the instructions of the House on the Motion to Recommit the amendment was considered.

On agreeing to the Scott (VA) amendment (A002) Agreed to by voice vote. · Sponsored by Robert C. "Bobby" Scott

H.Amdt. 881Sep 16, 2020

Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1107, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Education and Labor, modified by the amendment printed in Part A of the Rules Committee report is considered adopted.

On agreeing to the Rules amendment (A001) Agreed to by voice vote.

Bill Text

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Referred in SenateIssued September 17, 2020

IIB

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 2574

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 17, 2020

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, and Labor, and Pensions

AN ACT

To amend title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to restore the right to individual civil actions in cases involving disparate impact, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act of 2019.

Restoration of right to civil action in disparate impact cases under title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

607.

The violation of any regulation relating to disparate impact issued under section 602 shall give rise to a private civil cause of action for its enforcement to the same extent as does an intentional violation of the prohibition of section 601.

Designation of monitors under title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.) is further amended by adding at the end the following:

608.

(a)

Each recipient shall—

(1)

designate at least one employee to coordinate its efforts to comply with requirements adopted pursuant to section 602 and carry out the responsibilities of the recipient under this title, including any investigation of any complaint alleging the noncompliance of the recipient with such requirements or alleging any actions prohibited under this title; and

(2)

notify its students and employees of the name, office address, and telephone number of each employee designated under paragraph (1).

(b)

In this section, the term recipient means a recipient referred to in section 602 that operates an education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance authorized or extended by the Secretary of Education.

(c)

Antisemitism considered discrimination

In carrying out the responsibilities of the recipient under this title, the employee or employees designated under this section shall consider antisemitism to be discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin as prohibited by this title.

Special assistant for equity and inclusion

Section 202(b) of the Department of Education Organization Act (20 U.S.C. 3412(b)) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and

(2)

by inserting after paragraph (3), the following:

(4)

There shall be in the Department, a Special Assistant for Equity and Inclusion who shall be appointed by the Secretary. The Special Assistant shall promote, coordinate, and evaluate efforts to engender program compliance with title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.) and inform individuals of their rights under such Act, including the dissemination of information, technical assistance, and coordination of research activities, in a manner consistent with such Act. The Special Assistant shall advise both the Secretary and Deputy Secretary on matters relating to compliance with title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.).

Passed the House of Representatives September 16, 2020.

Cheryl L. Johnson,

Clerk